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Faced with the threat of severe environmental damage from expansion of mountain top removal strip mining in Tennessee, Save Our Cumberland Mountains (SOCM), a grassroots organization, came up with a unique way to get their message out and bring their issue to the top decision-maker- the Governor. In July 2004 they launched a 400 mile, 16 day boat trip from the mountain headwaters to the state capitol in Nashville to carry a "message in a bottle" — a jug of water and sediment from mining runoff that represents potential for future statewide environmental damage.

SOCM, a citizen's organization, works state-wide for environmental, social, and economic justice on issues including forestry, mining, toxics, tax reform, voting rights and dismantling racism. Strip mining has been a major concern of the group since 1972. While neighboring states have been experiencing severe environmental damage from mountaintop removal strip mining, Tennessee had only four such projects. However, in 2004 the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) proposed twelve new sites. SOCM is determined to stop the projects. The boat trip project was successful in raising public awareness and getting the attention of key decision makers. Here is how it worked:

Step 1: SOCM Identifies the Right Target Decision Maker

SOCM members realized that they could not defeat these proposals by fighting each mining permit separately. Based on their experience on the issue SOCM determined that the federal Office of Surface Mining was not going to help, since the Bush administration has encouraged the mountain top removal method. However, their research showed that the state of Tennessee had authority to approve or deny water quality related permits. As a result, the group focused their advocacy effort on Gov. Phil Bredesen.

Step 2: The "Message in a Bottle" Relay

To get the Governor's attention and educate the public on the issue SOCM decided to carry a bottle of water polluted from strip mine runoff from its source to Nashville along the same waterways that polluted water would travel from mountain top removal sites. A group of canoeists started at a public access in the Big South Fork National River near a mine site, and carried the bottle of water in relays to the Cumberland River and all the way to Nashville. At each stop the group was met by supporters and held a rally and press event. Although local press did not attend many events, they were made aware of the issue and picked up the story from the Associated Press and SOCM press releases.

The statewide press coverage of the relay served to alert the public to the TVA proposals and convey SOCM members' personal stories of human and environmental costs of strip mining to a statewide audience.

Step 3: Nashville Rally

By the time the bottle of water arrived in Nashville there were 60 canoeists and a fleet of kayaks, bass boats, pontoon boats and even a sailboat. The fleet pulled into a dock by the Nashville Coliseum and held a pre-arranged rally and press event. A 50 foot banner said, "Don't Let Mining Turn Rocky Topless", referring to the old song "Rocky Top". The deputy commissioner of the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation, Karen Stachowski, was on hand to accept the bottled message for the Governor.

At the Nashville rally several SOCM members who are directly impacted by the TVA proposals spoke eloquently about their experience with mountain top removal. They also praised the state for stricter environmental enforcement and regulation than the federal government, and encouraged them to step in and investigate the effects further mountain top removal mining would have on streams and rivers statewide.

Results: Press Coverage and a Meeting With State Officials

The Nashville event was covered by the statewide newspaper and television and radio stations. It brought enough attention to the issue for SOCM to get a meeting on their concerns with the Governor's office. Prior to the event, it had been much more difficult to get a meeting. However, at the Nashville rally Dep. Commissioner Stachowski said, "We must continue this conversation regarding how mining practices and government policies should work."